CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A West Virginia man has been indicted for a June 9 shooting at a Maryland machine shop as well as an ensuing altercation with law enforcement.
Joe Louis Esquivel, 23, of Hedgesville, allegedly shot and killed three coworkers at Columbia Machine Inc. in Smithsburg, Maryland. According to authorities, he worked part of his regular shift before leaving the building to retrieve a weapon. When he walked into the building, he fired multiple shots at employees who were near a breakroom.
Police also found a wounded person outside.
After Esquivel left the scene in a car, he encountered members of the Maryland State Police and began to fire shots at the troopers. One trooper was injured.
Another trooper wounded Esquivel in the exchange of gunfire.
According to the Associated Press, the grand jury handed down its indictments on June 29. Esquivel has been charged with murder, attempted murder, assault and use of a firearm in a crime of violence.
AP…A grand jury has indicted the West Virginia man accused of shooting and killing three coworkers at a Maryland machine shop and then shooting and wounding a state trooper who was responding to the incident.
Joe Louis Esquivel, 23, of Hedgesville, West Virginia, was indicted June 29 in two separate criminal cases, including charges of murder, attempted murder, assault and use of a firearm in a crime of violence, said Christine Remsburg, Assistant State’s Attorney for Washington County, Maryland.
Authorities say Esquivel arrived June 9 for his normal shift at Columbia Machine Inc. in the rural community of Smithsburg in western Maryland. He allegedly worked until he left the building to retrieve a weapon, went back inside and fired on employees near a breakroom.
Smithsburg police responding to a 911 call found a wounded person outside the business. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said deputies found three shooting victims inside, all of whom were dead.
Esquivel left the scene in a car and encountered Maryland State Police. A 25-year veteran trooper was shot when police said Esquivel fired at troopers. At least one trooper returned fire, striking the suspect, state police said.